Water-heater.



No. 647,758. Patented Apr. l7, I900.

R. S. 0BR.

WATER HEATER.

(Application filed Apr. 15, 1899.)

( No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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m: NORRIS rrzns o0 PHOTO-LYING WA5HINGYON. u. c

(No Model.)

n. s. 0BR. WATER HEATER.

A ucapion med'A r. 15, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Wiinesses: I

n I 2 l6 A5 S /a 6 Inventor? m: norms PETERS on. FHOYOJJTHO, wnsnmarum n. c.

NITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

ROBERT S. ORR, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATER-HEATER;

forming part of Letters Patent No. 64%,?58, dated April 1'7", 1906'.

Application filed A ril 15, 1899- Serial No. 713,148. (No model.)

To LLZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT S. ORR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Water-Heaters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formin g part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a view in sectional elevation, illustrating the application of my improved regulator to a water-heater. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the regulator, on an enlarged scale, showing the gas-valve open, permitting gas to flow to the burner. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the double-seated gas-valve. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the water-inlet pipe provided with a safety by-pass and diaphragm, permitting rupture to occur in such diaphragm to prevent bursting in otherparts of the apparatus in case of possible derangement preventing seating of the valve. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view showing the action of the valve when open. Fig. 6 is a similar view illustrating a construction employing a double diaphragm and dispensing with the retracting-spring.

My invention relates to the class of automatic water-heaters wherein the generation of heat is dependent on the flow of water; and it consists in the improved regulating-valve whereby the flow of the gas is controlled by and in proportion to the varying pressure of water passing through the regulator-chamber.

Referring now to the drawings, I have shown the application of my invention to the most usual form of this class of devices,wherein a coil of pipes 2 is arranged within a suitable shell 3 and in the path of circulation of the products of combustion of fuel-gas from burners 4, supplied from a common pipe or chamber 5. In the generality of this class of water-heaters the supply of fuel-gas to the burners is dependent upon and necessarily in proportion to the amount of water withdrawn and passing through the heating-coil, it being obvious that a greater heat is required to produce the same desired temperature when the water is passing rapidly thro ugh the coils with leasttime exposure than when passing through slowlywith greatertime ex- 443,797, of December 30, 1890, and others of later date, as shown by the state of the art.

The regulator which forms the subject-matt-er'of the present invention is shown incorporated with the heater in the general view and on a larger scale in various modified con= structions in the subsequent detail views of the drawings.

The regulator is denominated by the letter A and is formed with a water-chamber 2 and gas-chamber 3 within suitably-shaped in'closing shell-like sections secured together by flanges 4. Extending across and forming a horizontal partition between these chambers is a diaphragm 5, of any suitable flexible material,as rubber,secured between these flanges and capable of movement in either direction.

In the gas-chamber is a valve-seat 6 on the upper end of a hollow bushing 8, set up into the gas-chamber by means of screw-threads or otherwise, permitting adjustment of its position, and into this bushing is introduced the delivery end of a gas-supply pipe 9. A gas-delivery pipe 10 leads from the interior of the chamber 3 to the burner-chamber 5, from which it passes to the burners 4, air being furnished through mixers 11, while a pilotlight is kept constantly burning from the end of pipe 12, leading directly from the gas-supply pipe 9.

' The flow of gas into the chamber 3, and consequently the supply to the burners, is controlled by a valve 13, normally seated upon the valve-seat 6 at top of the bushing 8, which valve is connected with the diaphragm by'a stem 14, so that it will be seen that pressure upon the top of the diaphragm will seat the valve, while upward motion of the diaphragm will unseatit, permitting the gas to flow. Water to the heating coils is furnished through pipe 14, leading from the upper chamber 2, while a supply-pipe 15 from .the main is introduced into the same chamber,and it will thus be seen that when there is no circulation of water the static water-pressure will be maintained in the chamber 2and will exert a pressure on the diaphragm 5;'which' pressure is suflieient to always keep the valve 13 seated. When any faucet or faucets in the delivery-pipe 16, leading from-the heating-coil to any point of distribution, are

opened, the pressure in the chamber 2 is immediately reduced, and I have provided means to raise the diaphragm and valve as against such reduced water-pressure consisting of a spring 17, the lower end of which is secured to the diaphragm and-the upper end by means of an intervening swivel-joint 7 to an adjustable screw 18, set by screw-threads into the upper shell of the regulator-case. By'tur'ningt-his' screw up or down the retracting action of the spring may be varied and.

adjusted very accurately to whatever normal h e ier hihs e the gee-velve i -di eehp'rhs portion tosuch reduction, so-thatif'a very L is,

by proper regulation of theflow throughthe pressur f watel a exist i em 1h h P151 9 ihwill be en t s ee iehe of waterpress'ure'in the chamber 2 will result gradua fl w of Wa is p ed d he' ecreas inpressure'will be proportionallysmalhre: I B t n in et Slight n n o h va e, whileincase Ofa strongeraflow the reductionhr'z' ee'eh e w ll at r a he n p'ertionate opening ofthe valve alsogreater, ad-f .m'itting a proportionally greater flow of gas.

' Upeh elefleing he Wa er v ve or 'fah e th static pressure in chamber 2 will be reestab j' lished and the now of gas n be imm diatel orderlo secure asufiicient difference be eeh t stat i p e in th ma n nd: 1 Wete hhember M th nn n P ess" re qu rougwne amb w e Wate isflbe s r wh h po nt; and us e hsure pereiheh 'e h e a a d valve I e i ploy means for partially shutting, ed the het -fi 't e g h su p y-pipe sh las a local-pressure-co'ntrolling.valve l9,'bvy vwhich the rate of flow of water to thecham ber 2"rna'y be very accurately controlled and regulated. Another advantage of the local: pressure-controlling valve is that the regulatormay beused with main-pressures of considerable'variation, as it permits the pressures to be adapted to the tension of the diaphragm valve. In addition to the above function the local-,pressure-controlling valve serves to control the flow of water in conformity with the capacity of the heater.

' In case thepressure of Water in them ain is unusually low the diameter of the diaphragm may beproportionall y greater; but ordinarily the tension of the spring 17 may be varied sufficiently to compensate for all such variations the water-pressure of the main. It will be understood that in its normal position static pressure of the water in the main is very quickly established and maintained in the chamber 2.

frequently happensthat the statie pres% sure in the main pipe is reduced byreason of excessive drainage therefrom in use or in case of bursting of a main, and in such event the pressure in chamber 2 will be proportionally diminished and the diaphragm will rise, open ing ,the valve emergency and prevent further action in case a faucet should be opened, I have provided an upper valve-seat 20, (shown in Fig. 3,) against which the upper face or valve 13 will To provide against such an 7 seat, thus shutting off the flow of gas until u the static pressure is reestablished, when the valve will be seated downwardly in the usual manner. It will be seen that this secondary valve-seat 20 is provided with a central opening 21 of sufficient area to permit the flow of gas in theordinary operation. In case of any possible derangement which would prevent the normal operation I have provided the con-, struction shown in Fig; 4.; Y A check-valve 22 is inserted in the feedpipe 15 between the localpres'sure controlling vvalve and chamber 2, which check-valvewill beseatedin case the pressureis reduced in the main, thusprieventing escape of water outwardly tothe'main, so thatit will bej'impossible in case of such reduction for the gas-valve to remain open longer 11th an su'fli'cient to generate suiiicient heat in the coils-to cause enoughback pressure tojcause -e eh ihe'efa hee! h the ase .ef u

deran ement th va e Wehld emai p dhi tting e ii hieh n turn would rais the mper e i the eeflsand she-h pe hh e would continue until all thewaterin the coils wa c nv d t st am-1 By hhi s' h h v ny pre s e to su h when is v e fined to the chamber 2,. resulting inolosing th -val e a h hi s f-h e'steem. At a side. of I such check-valve are. connected the erm nal e y-p ssp p 23- Ata r'pe sh l i e is i ert d e fetr ap ra v25L, of any suitable material, such as lead,

and of sufiicient strength to withstand ordia y pre su e bu Wh eh w ll b rs u e such excessive pressure as. would bedangerq l endi r a n h r i any por ion of the apparatus. In this construction in case of excessive. pressnre, as I have described or in case foreign matter should interfere with the operation of the valve, the check-valve 22 will be seated andv the diaphragm 24: will burst, relieving the pressure inthe main and preventing accident.

It :will be understood that'in the forms that I havedescribed the retractile power of the spring 17 may be Veryaccurately adjusted to provide for the operation of the valve in conformity with whatever pressure may exist in the main. 7 v

In Fig. 6I have shown a construction in which the staticwater-pressure replaces the spring of the former construction.- In this case I have provided a secondary water-pres h e h he 3 b ow t e su ha e i h mu t a w ys be n p m h ea n w t th main etw e hi hemb 3 a the h eha b i seco d ry iephragm 31, secured, like the diaphragm 5, to the valve-stem-l l. This secondary diaphragm is employed to provide a partition between the secondary chamber 30 and the valve-chamber, and in order to permit the main diaphragm 5 to perform its functions under the varying pressures existing between the upper and lower chambers 2 and 30 the diaphragm 31 must be of considerably-less diameter. Into the chamber 30 is introduced a branch pipe 32 of the main feed-pipe 15, such branch pipe to its greater exposed area, which will raise the valve 13 from itsseat. Upon pressure being reestablished in chamber 2 the normal conditions will be again resumed and the valve will be seated. For the'purpos'e of con trolling the upward travel of the valve-stem a screw 33 is inserted in the case, which limits its motion at any desired point.

The construction and operation of my improved regulating-Valve is very simple and eflicient, not liable to get out'of order, and

' it can be built at low cost.

The diaphragms are not subject to derangement by reason of foreign matter or collection of sediment, such as aifects other forms of regulator-valves, by reason of the cleansing action of the circulating water through the chamber2, and they may be easily and quickly renewed in case it is desired.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the construction or design by the:

skilled mechanic without departing from my invention, and I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction shown, but to include all such changes within my invention as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is- 1. In combination with a burner and a water-heater a regulator situate between the main water-pipe and the heater and provided with a water-chamber through which all the water to the heater passes; a water=inlet pipe leading from the main water-pipe directly into the water-chamber; a positively-operated local-pressure-controlling valve between the main water-pipe and the water-chamber, by which the water-supply to the water-chamber may be positively regulated; a water-outlet pipe leading directly from the waterchamber and connected with the heater; a flexible diaphragm in the regulator subject to the water-pressure in the water-chamber and forming one wall thereof; a valve connected with the diaphragm for controlling the flow of gas to the burner; and mechanism for retracting the diaphragm and opening the gas-valve upon flow of water through the water-chamber to the heater, such mechanism being made operative by the reduction of pressure in the water-chamber due to the difference between the static and running pressures. j 2. A regulator for water-heaters provided with upper and lower water-chambers, an intervening diaphragm of flexible material, a

gas-chamber below the lower water-chamber,

an intervening diaphragm of flexible material of 7 reduced area, gas inlet and outlet pipes leading to the gas-chamber, a valve adapted to regulate the flow of gas therethroughconnected toboth diaphragms, a water-outlet pipe leading from the waterchamber, a water-inlet pipe leading thereinto provided with a local-pressure-controlling valve, a branch pipe leading from the water-inlet pipe beyond the local-pressurecontrolling valve to the lower water-chamber, substantially as set forth.

3. A regulator for water-heaters provided with upper and lower water-chambers 2 and 30, an intervening diaphragm of flexible material, a gas chamber below the lower waterchamber, an intervening diaphragm of fiexi= ble material of reduced area, gas inlet and outlet pipes leading to the gas-chamber, a

valve adapted to regulate the flow of gas therethrough connected to both diaphragm's, a water-pressure pipe communicating with the main and chamber 2, a local-pressure-controlling valve adapted to control such pres sure, and a direct water-pressure connection from the supply-main beyond the local-pressure-controllin g valve to chamber 30 whereby a practically-constant pressure is maintained in such chamber, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT s. 0111i.

Witnesses:

PETER J. EDWARDS, O. M. CLARKE. 

